The Hunt for Captain Kidd’s Treasure: Fact or Fiction?

From eye patches to shoulder-perching parrots, many of the traditional details of pirate lore can be traced back to Robert Louis Stevenson’s iconic tale, Treasure Island. And, when it came to buried loot, there was one hoard that inspired Stevenson above all else: the treasure of Captain Kidd.

Said to have been buried for safekeeping by this legendary privateer turned pirate, the Captain Kidd treasure tale has become a myth in its own right. Indeed, from the sandy shores of Long Island to the depths of the Indian Ocean, treasure hunters still search for these supposed riches today.

So, is Kidd’s treasure still out there to be found? Was it ever there to begin with? Join us on this deep dive into the history of Captain Kidd, the relentless hunt for his booty, and the fascinating facts that keep this centuries-old mystery afloat.

William Kidd was born around 1645 in Scotland, although sources differ as to whether he came from Dundee or Greenock, some 75 miles away. Believed to have begun his career at sea as a youth, Kidd earned a reputable standing among merchants and officials as a sailor at the height of the Golden Age of Piracy.

At the time, governments often engaged privateers, these being private ship owners authorised to attack enemy ships during wartime, thus blurring the lines between lawful naval warfare and piracy. From 1689, Kidd was privateering for the English government against the French, operating around the West Indies and the North American coast.

In 1695, Kidd received a royal commission from King William III to hunt down pirates preying on British ships in the Indian Ocean. Backed by influential patrons, including the Earl of Bellomont, Kidd embarked on a voyage that would prove his downfall.

On 6th September 1696, Captain Kidd and a 150-strong crew set sail on the Adventure Galley, a ship armed with 34 cannons. Details vary, but, by all accounts, the expedition was plagued by misfortune and disease, leading to a high loss of crew members. However, it was the scarcity of legitimate pirate targets that proved the real problem. Without any loot for their efforts, the crew grew restless and then mutinous, with many wanting to cross the line from privateering to piracy. One argument over whether to attack a particular ship ended in Kidd striking one of his gunners with an iron-ringed bucket and killing him.

In January of 1698, Kidd finally obtained his prize. He hunted and captured the Armenian-flagged trading ship the Quedagh Merchant, thereby gaining possession of both the ship and its valuable cargo. Though the vessel sailed under French passes, potentially making it a legitimate prize, the ship had a multinational crew and the cargo had owners from several different nations, some with links to Britain. The idea of the Quedagh Merchant therefore being a French ship – and thus a viable target – was ambiguous at best. Nevertheless, after debating the decision, Kidd and his crew decided to seize the vessel.

News of Kidd’s actions soon reached England, causing significant outcry, and he was eventually declared to be an outlaw and a pirate. Aware of his predicament, Kidd sailed to the Caribbean and then back to New York, hoping his influential connections would save him. Instead, he was arrested, imprisoned and eventually sent back to England for trial. In 1701, Captain Kidd was executed by hanging, and his body was displayed over the River Thames as a warning to others.

The seeds of the legend of the Captain Kidd treasure were sown during his return voyage. Facing arrest, he buried a cache of treasure on Gardiners Island, off the coast of Long Island, New York. This hoard included gold, silver, and precious gems.

However, the plan backfired. Before his trial, Kidd revealed the location of his buried treasure to the authorities, who recovered and used it as evidence against him. The dramatic notion of a pirate burying his loot captured the public’s imagination, and stories of the lost treasure of William Kidd began to flourish. Tales spread of Kidd hiding more treasure along other coastlines in the same region, as well as nearby islands and remote locations from the Americas to the Indian Ocean. These legends were fuelled by the romanticism of piracy and a fascination with mystery and adventure.

Over the centuries, countless treasure hunters have embarked on expeditions to uncover Kidd’s supposed hoard. Some of the most notable hunts include:

• Gardiners Island: The initial recovery of treasure from Gardiners Island in 1699 only intensified beliefs that more remained hidden. Despite thorough searches, no evidence of Kidd’s treasure was found there.
• Oak Island, Nova Scotia: One of the most famous and enduring treasure hunts is on Oak Island. Theories suggest that the William Kidd treasure, among others, was buried in the “Money Pit.” Excavations have taken place since the 18th century, but no conclusive evidence of the treasure of Captain Kidd has been discovered.
• Liberty Island, New York: Legends claim that Kidd buried treasure where the Statue of Liberty now stands. Despite the intrigue, no evidence supports this, and no excavations have occurred due to the site’s historical significance.
• Madagascar: In 2015, a team led by marine archaeologist Barry Clifford claimed to have found a silver bar off the coast of Madagascar, thought to be part of Kidd’s treasure. However, UNESCO later stated the find was not linked to Kidd.

Separating fact from fiction in the tales of the lost treasure of William Kidd is challenging, not least because the legend originated from what had been genuinely buried loot at Gardiners Island. This left open the possibility of more, even though there was no concrete evidence to support it.

Kidd’s legend also inspired literature and popular culture, influencing works like Edgar Allan Poe’s The Gold-Bug and Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. Some even credit Kidd with originating the concept of buried pirate treasure.

What’s more, the circumstances of Kidd’s trial remained contentious, with some arguing it was a miscarriage of justice. The line between privateering and piracy was infamously thin in the late 17th century. Kidd held a legitimate commission to capture pirates and French vessels, and he maintained that his seizure of the Quedagh Merchant was lawful. During the trial, crucial evidence – such as the French passes of the Quedagh Merchant – was allegedly suppressed.

Political motivations may also have played a part, as Kidd’s wealthy backers distanced themselves and failed to defend him. The trial was rushed, and Kidd was arguably denied adequate time to prepare his case, leading some to believe he was scapegoated for political reasons. It was in this quagmire of fact and fiction that the legend of the Captain Kidd treasure grew roots and flourished.

The legend of the Captain Kidd treasure straddles the line between myth and reality. Historical evidence suggests any significant treasure was either recovered or never existed. Yet the legend persists, captivating new generations with the hope of uncovering the lost wealth of the infamous Captain Kidd.